Lists

Last Minute Gamer Christmas Ideas

Holy crap! We have less than a week until Christmas, and if you’re anything like me, you’re looking for some last minute gifts to give. There were so many great games that came out this year, it can be hard to decide on just one. Even still, some of those games are pretty expensive, and not all of us want to be spending $60 on a friend, right? Well don’t worry, Armed Gamer’s here to help give you some direction with our last minute gamer Christmas ideas to meet all sorts of budget plans! So strap yourselves in and let’s get going!

[Editor’s Note: All Amazon links included in this piece are affiliate links. Not all links are Amazon links, though. Please support Armed Gamer and book mark this Amazon Link and buy through that! We get a small commission on every purchase. Thank you, and Merry Christmas!]

Last Minute Gamer Christmas: Best Friends

I’m will be the first to say that if someone’s my best friend, I’m totally gonna spoil them, and sometimes that means I’m getting them something pretty dope. Here’s our recommendation for the $60+ range, you high-roller, you.

Fallout 4 – $60: This should honestly go without saying. If your friend doesn’t have this game, get it for them. It came out last month and is easily a game you can lose your life to. Is there a main story line? I don’t even know. I’m too busy building my settlements and shooting anyone who sounds like they might pahk the cah in habahd yahd in the face. Quite a few people were willing to give this a few months to sit so Bethesda could work out the bugs, but honestly: this is one of their smoother launches. It’s not exactly bug-free, but I have yet to encounter anything game-breaking, so it’s definitely a good purchase right now. Get it for a friend and swap stories of roaming the wastelands.

Logitech G710 Mechanical Keyboard – $130: Your friend a PC gamer who already has all the internal bells and whistles but is still using cheap peripherals? Get them back on track with their own mechanical keyboard. For one that is actually pretty mid-range but won’t make people go crazy over the loud sound, take a look at Logitech’s G710 Blue. It’s got plenty of great functionality including a program that will allow you to program the individual keys for that custom feel gamers all too often crave.

3 Month Subscription to Loot Crate – $60: If there’s one thing gamers appreciate, it’s swag, and Loot Crate has all the swag your friend could want. Each month a box gets delivered to them full of all sorts of nick-nacks and goodies. Usually there’s a unifying theme to everything, and there can sometimes be some pretty cool doodads hidden in there. It’s also a good reminder over the three months of how much of a friend you are when you raid their fridge over the next 3 months.

Just look at how sleek that is!

Astro A50 Gaming Headset – $300: Okay, for this one… forget your friends. Just spoil yourself. This is a damn good headset. The sound quality on the mic and headset is great, and the wireless capability is always a bonus (I generally use headsets with long cables and CONSTANTLY run them over with my chair). At the $300 price tag, either your friend gave you a kidney or you’re literally made of money, but hey: If you feel like spoiling them, then go big or go home!

Last Minute Gamer Christmas Ideas: Just Friends

Here’s the category for people looking to gift-give on a bit of a budget. Sure, you see these guys pretty much every week, but are they best friend status? Naw. These gifts are going to generally be in the $25-60 range, and are a great way to bring a group together!

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – $35: This is a game that came out earlier this year, and let me tell you: it’s fucking massive. Cd Projekt Red absolutely nailed it with the latest installment in their popular The Witcher series. It’s gorgeous, deep, and the combat manages to feel both kinetic and fluid. It’s a bit like a single-player fantasy-noir game, and I mean that in the best possible way. There are some great mysteries to uncover and a fantastic plot that will keep your friend wanting to play for a while. Don’t give them any hints, and let them have at it!

This game is stupid amounts of fun!

Rocket League – $20: Now here’s a game that took pretty much everyone by surprise. The premise is simple: rocket cars play soccer. The execution is damn near flawless. It’s a great party game and a great way to spend an evening with friends. Fuck around, yell at each other, and have a great time. Play either on the PC or the PS4 and see how far your team can go. If you haven’t already picked the game up, do it. You won’t regret your decision!

The Art of Video Games: From Pac-Man to Mass Effect – $28: Games are beautiful. Not only are they art, but they consist of some great, visually stunning setpieces as well. This book was written by the curator of the Smithsonian American Art Museum who showcased the Art of Video Games exhibit. It’s a great book to get a friend who just loves beautiful games, and it’s a pretty good coffee table book as well. I’d definitely recommend it.

Gaming Wall Prints – $11-$35: From BioShock to Halo and more, The Celluloid Android on Etsy has some pretty amazing prints ready to be framed. If your friend’s room is looking a little bare, pick them up one or several of these to decorate with. I can’t recommend these designs enough!

View-Master VR STarter Pack – $30: So the Occulus Rift and pretty much every other VR platform out there might be out of your price range. Still, for that friend who wants at least some VR feel, there’s the Vew-Master VR. It’s built on the Google Cardboard platform and is actually pretty robust. It’s compatable with the iPhone and many Android devices, and has plenty of apps to keep your friend entertained. All in all, it’s a pretty good way to get yourself started on your VR journey so you’re ready for the singularity when it comes.

Last Minute Gamer Christmas Ideas: Acquiantances

You’ve met these people often enough that you know them and yeah, it’s probably okay to get them something, but you don’t want to go too crazy. Don’t you worry: I have you covered. Here’s our gift list that’s no more than $25 each.

Nerdy, Printed Lighters – $20: You acquaintance a smoker? Check out these pop-art lighters and ashtrays on Etsy. There are some pretty awesome designs, and your buddy is sure to love whatever you get.

NES Cartridge Flask – $20: Who doesn’t love to drink? I sure as hell do. Encourage your buddy’s poor habits with their own NES-style flask. There’s The Legend of Drink, Fine Ale Fantasy, and Drunk Hunt! These normally sell for $20 on ThinkGeek, but as I am looking at it right now, they’re on sale for only $10! Scoop them up!

Minecraft Sword – $14: You ever ant to just straight up hit someone with a sword or a pickaxe? These Minecraft swords will get the job done. When your’e not attacking each other with them, they also make a pretty decent way for your friend to decorate their room.

Not a Hero – $13: This adrenaline-fueled 2D shooter is definitely reminiscent of Hotline Miami. It’s a fun, fast-paced game of running and shooting with all sorts of crazy characters. I mean hell… just look at it! So much insanity going on! Your friend is going to love it!

Have fun, kill everyone!

Party Hard – $13: Is your friend a bit of a loner? Have you always suspected them of being a psychopath? Let them fulfill those urges in a game instead of real life! Play as a loner who is tired of his neighbors partying so late and go through the party slowly killing everyone. It’s a delightfully sick, twisted, and fun concept.

Invisible Inc. – $20: If you’re looking for something a little more stealthy for your friend, definitely check out Invisible Inc. Play as a group of operatives without an HW, and enjoy the intense stealth missions. It’s that game for friends who appreciate difficulty and dying a lot.

So there you have it! There’s our list – for now. Did we miss anything? Are there any other great gift ideas you think we should add? Let us know in the comments below!

About Stephen Crane

Stephen was hooked by the NES at a very young age and never looked back. He games on a daily basis and is currently trying to climb his way up the ranked ladder on League of Legends!
Outside of the video game world he actually likes running and owns a rapidly growing collection of toed shoes. Stephen Crane is the owner of Armed Gamer.